BRAND NAME.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS

From: 104

To: Simplified Acquisition Section

Subject: Brand Name Justification for Black Box Boxilla KVM & AV/IT

Management System

1. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIRED SUPPLIES/SERVICES, ESTIMATED

VALUE, AND DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS

This purchase request is for OEM Black Box Boxilla centralized Kernel-based Virtual Machine & Audio-Visual (KVM and AV/IT) management system bbbb .

Boxilla is a centralized Enterprise-level KVM Over IP system manager that enables centralized and secure remote access to an unlimited number of endpoints - computers and virtual machines - from one single intuitive access point. It allows you to configure device and user information (such as names, passwords, and access rights) and also set bandwidth usage limitations so you can see how your system is performing in real time at any given moment.

2. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR BRAND NAME BASED ON

CONTRACTOR’S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR NATURE OF THE

ACQUISITION

This initiative is a tech refresh and security upgrade requirement to strengthen and harden our LAN AV/IT system against evolving cyber-threats and common hardware/software vulnerabilities.

Market research and peer review were conducted against known industry standards to identify and evaluate a secure centralized enterprise KVM management system that possesses enhanced authentication, access control, and accounting for secure communications. The system was required to be TAA compliant, possess fault-tolerant architecture and come equipped with enterprise level security and a configurable centralized command & control dashboard

Furthermore, the KVM solution was required to have a National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) Protection Profile certification for peripheral sharing device version 4.0, isolate data channels and provide nonreprogrammable ROM to ensure maximum security. As a note- NIAP Protection Profile for Peripheral Sharing Device Version 4.0 describes security requirements for a Peripheral Sharing Device (PSD) and provides a mechanism to securely connect a common set of peripherals to the attached computer(s). It is intended to provide a minimal, baseline set of requirements that are targeted at mitigating well-defined and described threats

Against these baseline security requirements, Black Box Boxilla stood out with its advanced Emerald KVM-Over-IP Receiver solution. Primarily, it offered a Secure KVM Switch with mechanical, electrical, and optical signal isolation to prevent hacking and data leakage in environments where security is paramount. It is also tested and certified for NIAP Protection Profile 4.0 and each KVM port uses its own isolated data channel so that no data is leaked between secure ports and the outside world. Each unit also features non-reprogrammable ROM to better protect the switch's functions, and its emulation of keyboard and mouse also prevents the direct connection between the peripherals and connected computers, shielding systems from potential vulnerabilities while built-in tamperproof seals and a long-life internal anti-tamper battery add even more security for connected devices.

For administrators, Emerald provides centralized, secure management with flexible configuration and always-on reliability. It is scalable by design and can expand into a fully managed enterprise control (KVM) system, switch between sources in under half a second across your entire enterprise - buildings, campuses, or WAN - using existing IP infrastructure, deliver pixel-perfect HD DP/DVI video resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 over copper or fiber and its dual network ports and flexible copper/fiber SFP+ connectivity deliver always-on resilience; even if one link fails, operations stay uninterrupted.

Additionally, the OEM Black Box also came with an International Organization for Standardization ISO 9001 certification- a globally recognized standard which defines seven quality management principles to improve performance, meet customer expectations and it demonstrates a commitment to quality.

Summarily, brand-name Black Box Boxilla Enterprise-level KVM Management System not only met and exceeded all salient technical & security requirements but it came with an ISO certification for quality and all at a reasonable total cost of ownership (TCO) for an advanced KVM manager solution.

3. MARKET SURVEY

Results of market research undertaken to identify similar or identical requirements through source lists of like items obtained through online resources, peer review and research has failed to identify any comparable alternative that matches or exceeds the government’s salient technical requirements and at better cost

4. ADDITIONAL FACTS

NA

5. APPROVALS:

I certify that the statements and information provided above, are complete and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that the processing of this justification precludes the use of full and open competition.

Signature of Cognizant Requisition Originator Date

Signature of 1st Level Supervisor Date

Signature of Contracting Officer Date